The 2015 Canadian Cancer Society Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock set off on its Island-long odyssey Saturday, Sept. 19, when the team members said farewell to friends, family and supporters and headed to the northern tip of Vancouver Island to start their fundraising bike ride.
The 21-member team, made up of 20 police officers and one broadcast journalist, will cycle the length of Vancouver Island for two weeks, clocking more than 1,000 km, all to raise money for pediatric cancer research and support programs.
Now in its 18th year, Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock has raised more than $20 million since its inception in 1998.
The riders will cycle into more than 25 communities, stopping at schools, community centres and local businesses.
On Monday, Sept. 28, the riders will complete the Nanaimo to Ladysmith and Chemainus leg, arriving in Ladysmith at 1:30 p.m.
After a brief stop at Tim Horton’s on First Ave., the riders will be piped up the hill to Ladysmith & District Credit Union, where they arrive at 2 p.m.
At 2:35 p.m. they will stop briefly at the Fox & Hounds Pub on High Street, before heading south to Chemainus, where they will check in at the Best Western Plus.
From 6:15 to 9 p.m. they will be attending the Red Serge Dinner at the Eagles Hall in Ladysmith. Tickets are $25, available at the LDCU and Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce.
Then on Tuesday, at 8 a.m. they will mingle with supporters over breakfast at the Chemainus Legion, before heading for a stop at Chemainus Elementary School at 9:15 a.m., then continuing south on their journey.